City still working to pass inspections, delaying start of pool season

The city of Frederick is still working to pass inspections on two public pools, delaying the opening of the swimming season from the traditional Memorial Day, which is Monday, to June 1.

In a press release on Friday, the city characterized it as a “brief delay needed to make necessary safety enhancements.”

“During routine pre-season inspections, the City’s Parks and Recreation team identified some essential safety measures that need to be addressed before we can safely welcome you back to the pools,” the press release said. It did not specify what those measures were.

As of Friday afternoon, the city had yet to pass final inspections for its William R. Diggs pool at Mullinix Park at 125 W. All Saints St. and its Edward P. Thomas pool at Baker Park at 500 Fleming Ave, according to the Frederick County Health Department.

The Health Department most recently inspected the pools on May 15, department spokesperson Rissah Watkins said in an interview.

The department found nine items that needed to be corrected for the Diggs pool and 12 items that needed to be corrected for the Thomas pool, Watkins said.

The checklist for pool inspections includes items such as cleanliness, ladders, drains, motors, gauges and clear markings for pool depths.

The Health Department did not immediately make available the inspection reports that show what items did not pass last week’s inspections.

City spokesman Allen Etzler initially said in an interview on Friday afternoon that the city had completed the work and was awaiting new inspections.

However, he later amended that in an email, writing that after checking back with the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, “I’m not certain if all of the work is completed at this point.”

Etzler added: “We feel confident that all of the work will be completed and the reinspections will be completed in time to open on June 1.”

Watkins said that after the May 15 inspections, the city scheduled reinspections for May 22, then canceled them.

Reinspections might be done on Wednesday of next week, but that wasn’t confirmed as of Friday afternoon, Watkins said.

“During this period, we encourage you to explore other recreational activities available in our parks,” the city’s press release says, “such as walking trails, playgrounds, and picnic areas. You can also find organized programs such as a free youth football camp at Hillstreet Park, weekly drop-in youth and adult art programs, and a host of fitness classes at the Talley Fitness Center. Visit playfrederick.com to explore more programs.”

The city planned to open its pools on Memorial Day — the annual kickoff date — for the preseason, with limited hours, through June 9.

The full season of pool operation, with broader hours, would run June 10 to Aug. 20.

The postseason, winding down the pool season, would be Aug. 21 to Sept. 2.